Sport shoe conversion attachment

ABSTRACT

A flexible unitary insert for attachment releasably over the tongue of an oxford shoe and under the laces thereof with the ornamented portion thereof adapted to overlie the laces in tied position to hide the lace bows and substitute an overlying sports design to convert the oxford to a sports shoe in appearance.

United States Patent [191 Johnson SPORT SHOE CONVERSION ATTACHMENT [76]Inventor: Earl S. Johnson, 828 N. Broadway,

Milwaukee, Wis. 53202 [22] Filed: Mar. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 342,833

[52] US. Cl 36/2 .5 C [51] Int. Cl A43!) 00/00 [58] Field of Search36/25 R, 2.5 C, 2.5 W,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1947 Chertok 36/25 C [451July 9 1974 2,887,795 5/1959 Taicher 36/25 C Primary Examiner-Patrick D.Lawson Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Gerald P. Welch ABSTRACT A flexibleunitary insert for attachment releasably over the tongue of an oxfordshoe and under the laces thereof with the ornamented portion thereofadapted to overlie the laces in tied position to hide the lace bows andsubstitute an overlying sports design to convert the oxford to a sportsshoe in appearance.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention enables one to make a quick change from a conventional oxfordto one having the appearance of a sports shoe without the necessity ofexchanging shoes. The shoe wearer can leave a casual dress occasion forhis office and convert his shoes to conventional appearance by merelyuntying the shoe laces, to release the anchoring portion of the devicefor its removal and then retying the shoe laces. The anchor portion isnarrow enough to be passed over the tongue of the shoe and under thelaces. The ornamental portion is hung frontally of the laces and bow inconcealment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showingthe oxford shoe provided with a style conversion device embodying theinvention.

FIG. 2 shows the unitary structure combining an an anchor portion andthe integral ornamental visible portion illustrated in perspective.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the device as wornwith the'clasp members secured.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The device may be fabricated of leather, simulatedleather or anyappropriate material, and the omamentation of the visibleportion thereof has many possibilites.

The device is in one piece, 10, and has an anchor por- 2 tion 11, anornamentation bearing portion 12 which is visible when in wearingposition. In one form of the invention a plurality of metal elements13-are arranged and secured in a patternas shownin FIG. 2. Interlockingfastening devices 14 and 15 are provided to releasably secure theinvention in place on the shoe 16.

In use, the shoe 16, a lace oxford is on the foot. The laces 17 areuntied and loosened. The anchor portion is inserted under the laces 17and over the tongue 18 and the laces 17 are tied in the usual manner.The ornamental portion is then folded down over the laces and the bow.The fastener 15 will protrude upwardly through the laces l7 and theelement 14 is engaged therewith, thus securing the ornamental part 12and converting the oxford to a sport shoe.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An insert element for a mans lace oxford shoe for converting it intoa sport styled shoe comprising an elongated sheet element with therelatively narrow end anchor portion thereof in use inserted from thetop under the laces of the oxford and over the tongue thereof, and anintegral and increasingly wider ornamental opposite end portion adaptedto depend frontally over the tied shoe laces, and snap fastener meansone element thereof fixed to the outer face of the an chor portion andthe complementary element set into the adjacent face of the overdepending portion for engagement with the first element through thecrossed laces of the shoe.

1. An insert element for a man''s lace oxford shoe for converting itinto a sport styled shoe comprising an elongated sheet element with therelatively narrow end anchor portion thereof in use inserted from thetop under the laces of the oxford and over the tongue thereof, and anintegral and increasingly wider ornamental opposite end portion adaptedto depend frontally over the tied shoe laces, and snap fastener meansone element thereof fixed to the outer face of the anchor portion andthe complementary element set into the adjacent face of the overdepending portion for engagement with the first element through thecrossed laces of the shoe.